A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,

I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."

My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue...An American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.

Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

I'm alive! In CA, will post pics later!

You are The Moon

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

The Moon is a card of magic and mystery - when prominent you know that nothing is as it seems, particularly when it concerns relationships. All logic is thrown out the window.

The Moon is all about visions and illusions, madness, genius and poetry. This is a card that has to do with sleep, and so with both dreams and nightmares. It is a scary card in that it warns that there might be hidden enemies, tricks and falsehoods. But it should also be remembered that this is a card of great creativity, of powerful magic, primal feelings and intuition. You may be going through a time of emotional and mental trial; if you have any past mental problems, you must be vigilant in taking your medication but avoid drugs or alcohol, as abuse of either will cause them irreparable damage. This time however, can also result in great creativity, psychic powers, visions and insight. You can and should trust your intuition.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

It's almost November!

A lot of things happen in November. Greg graduates on the 8th, National Novel Writing Month begins on the 1st, Jerry's birthday is the 4th, our anniversary is the 14th, and of course there is also Thanksgiving.

This time next week we'll be in San Diego for Greg's graduation, and afterwards he'll be coming home for a few days. He may even get to stay through Thanksgiving, if not we are having it early. I will be taking pictures and will post them to flickr as soon as I can. I am so excited about seeing him. We have been getting the van ready for the road trip, today it got new tires, which was the last thing that needed to be done to it. So, hopefully we will have very little mechanical problems on the way.

I am taking on the challenge of writing a novel in a month again this year. Keep checking back here as I've added a counter to the side bar so that everyone can keep track of my progress, or you can go to the site and read excerpts. I still don't know what I will be writing about yet, I'm sure that I will figure it out in time to start.

The rest of the things will happen as they are supposed to. All with happiness and merriment.

Live fully.....

Lots of good stuff

Greg called today. He sounded so much better than he did the first time he called. He will be graduating in a little more than a week from now. After graduation he will be home for a few days, and maybe even for Thanksgiving. I want to thank everyone that wrote to him, He asks that anyone who would still like to write to wait until after he gets a new address. Any mail sent now may not get to him until after he gets to his new post. It will be good to see him.

Kyle is doing good in his tech school. He'll be home in December for about a week, maybe even for part of Christmas. It will be good to see him again.

Congratulations to my sister and her new husband. I hope your reception goes off without a hitch and that the two of you have a wonderful life together.

Live fully....

Greg has conquered the crucible!

He toughed it out and made it through. He made it up the reaper, and had a hug breakfast. Here is what he ate: a cinnamon roll, French toast, eggs w/cheese and ham, steak, bagel, cake, and 10 bowls of cereal. The only bad thing about the breakfast was that they ran out of food before he could go back for seconds.

He has about three weeks to go, then it's on to graduation. He'll have a few days off, ad will be home. Then he goes to combat training, then on to his tech school. He'll know more about when and where all these things will take place. As soon as I know, so will all of you.

Live fully.....

Greg wrote!

He finally had a few minutes all at one time to write. He's been very busy, learning all kinds of things, like sleeping in a bed is much better than sleeping on the ground even with a sleeping bag, that shooting a gun according military specs isn't easy (it took him three times to qualify), that participating in the crucible means that basic is almost over (after the crucible is a warrior breakfast which he is looking forward to), he is looking forward to a couple days of rest after they get done with the crucible. It is only about three weeks until his graduation, we are all excited about seeing him, and he is excited about seeing all of us. He will have at least a few days off and will be at home for a little while, he may even be home through Thanksgiving. It all depends on his next schooling, which is combat training.

Kyle will be home in December for about a week. It will be good to see him again. He is really doing well in his training. He may be stationed in California when he is all done with his training. That will mean more chances to see him.

Live fully.....

It's almost time...

For writing. I will again this November take the challenge for National Novel Writing Month. I will try again to write 50,000 words in one month. I would like to challenge the rest of you to join me in this madness. It is a great deal of fun.



Go to above to sign up for the challenge, check on my progress, or to donate to the library fund. It all starts November 1st. Thankfully I have a laptop this year as I will be oing to Greg's graduation in the midst of the challenge.

Live fully....